In the summer of 2024, many iconic albums were released or resurfaced in the music industry, creating waves of fanfare over social media. Albums like brat by Charli XCX, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess by Chappell Roan, and Short N’ Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter, have skyrocketed in popularity and topped the charts for weeks. But how did they do it? How do they, as female artists, change the industry and differentiate themselves from other artists?
The British singer-songwriter Charli XCX has seen a spike in her career with her newest album brat releasing this past June. Trends like having a “brat summer”, the famous “apple” dance, and being “so Julia” (in reference to lyrics sung in her song “360”), have fans embodying the theme of the album and embracing its music as a whole. However, Charli XCX did not have this luck when first entering the music industry. While some of her most famous songs like “Boom Clap” and “Fancy” might now be looked upon as monumental, first-time listeners saw them as obnoxious and annoying when they were released. With these releases, Charli created a new genre of pop that mixed house-music type beats with loud choruses. However, because of this new approach to pop, it dragged Charli into the public eye and critics blasted her music. Because of the hate, average listeners stopped engaging with her music altogether. Though she kept releasing music, Charli’s numbers immensely decreased, leaving her music from that time to be some of the least ranked albums of her discography. With brat, Charli expresses a carefree message through grungy, messy lyrics-which makes it such a summer album. Through hardships and constant hate in her career, Charli has stuck with her own style of music, and it has finally paid off, pushing Charli to the peak of her career yet and leaving brat as one of the most successful albums this year.
Another artist that has reached a peak in her career is icon Chappell Roan. Her most popular album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, released in September 2023, has allowed for her music to resurface and take off, making Chappell a big name. Chappell’s brand consists of purposefully messy makeup, rage and spiteful lyrics, and drag-like outfits when in public. Her bold personality beams through her music and attracts fans. Through her music, Chappell has become very vulnerable online. However, this has led her to be victim to stalkers that have threatened her and her family. Because of the unsafety of the internet, she suggested she would quit music altogether, leaving her fans devastated. Nevertheless, Chappell issued a public statement online that addresses everything she felt, stating that she will not tolerate people who violate her in public just because she is famous. Critics claim she is being dramatic, whereas her fans fully support her and what she stands for, making her more loved by her community. Chappell has managed to invent her own take on music that has resulted in her opening for major artists, playing and headlining multiple music festivals, and getting invited to sing at the White House. She has defied boundaries and inspired fans everywhere to not confine to other people’s expectations.
Lastly, up and coming artist Sabrina Carpenter has taken the internet by storm through her newest album, Short N’ Sweet. This classic pop album, with a bit of a 90’s twist, talks about love and things that follow. Sabrina’s songs are very specific, as she is writing about moments in her life. In an ironic way, the specificity of her lyrics is what makes it so relatable to listeners. Growing up as a child actress on Disney, Sabrina had her internet persona built for her, limiting her ability to choose what she wanted to produce. Not only was she limited in her decision making, but she was also constantly competing with other rising celebrities who were in the same position. At first, Sabrina’s music stayed “safe”, following the characteristics of a regular pop song. Recently, she has become more confident and bolder with her lyrics, breaking out of her Disney identity. In Short N’ Sweet, Sabrina creates songs with striking melodies and vivid messages pushing her further into a new brand. Her upbeat songs are mixed with suggestive lyrics that push barriers, which distinguish herself and grow her music career. Now, Sabrina’s confidence is prevalent in all the music she makes.
Female artists in the music industry have constantly been downplayed and underappreciated. To have three major artists rise to fame in their own style pushes boundaries and inspires many fans. Through Charli XCX’s techno-pop, Chappell Roan’s expressive art, and Sabrina Carpenter’s retro relatability, music has been redesigned all over again, paving the way for future female artists to find success in the music industry in their own unique way.
